Baltimore to portsmouth to hatteras!!! Help!

Go Phish

Go Phish

New Member
Aug 8, 2010
33
Virginia
Boat Info
1986 Sea Ray 27 Sundancer DA
Engines
I/O Twin 4 cyl Mercs
I am about to go pickup my new 1986 Sea ray 270 DA in Baltimore and head down to Portsmouth Va for a concert. To be honest its a new thing for me, boat this big and trip this long. I would like some info on where i should get charts and stuff. I am also wondering how much fuel ill probably burn with twin 4cyl. Any idea on gas mileage? fuel costs?It looks likes its 148 nautical miles from baltimore to portsmouth. What type of fuel? I was thinking of trailering it but apparently the beam is too big for me to tow without huge hassle. I do own a tree company here in richmond and have a truck to tow it with and a truck with lights to follow but am not sure about my trailer holding it. It is a tandem axle and i am in the process of making a new toungue for it to add a couple feet since my last boat was a 240 weekender. The longer tongue with be fine i think but am concerned about how wide it is for the trailer. I guess what im asking is what would yall do? I just dont want to spend a pile of money for the baltimore portsmouth trip, considering im going to be taking down to hatteras on July 4(as yall can tell I'm real excited to have the new boat)for 10 days. I am hoping to take it offshore and try my hand at some tuna fishing. Tow it or boat it. any cool tips would be appreciated, considering my last weekender i never got to take out.
Ps i cant attache pics for some reason
 
Find an experienced boater who knows what they are doing to go along with you. Seriously. You are biting off a heck of a lot all at once, and that's an invitation to disaster.
 
There are just too many variables here to give detailed advice. With every vessel there is a learning curve. Supply more info and you may get better advice.
 
Well like Sea Gull said there are a lot of variables to cover. First thing is safety gear. Make sure you have it all and its up to date. Second thing that springs to mind is mechanical condition of the outdrives and engines. Once you are sure they are good for a very long 8-9 hour run look at the weather. I would be most concerned with wind and tide. Once you are out of the sissy part of the bay it's pretty open down south. It can be a long slow ride. For me I would try to enjoy the ride, I would break it up into 2-3 days. I would run from B-More down to maybe Herrington Harbor South. Then down to Reedville. Then Portsmouth. I think it all depends on the weather.

If you need to know where to get charts well, West Marine and you can download NOAA charts onto your PC and there is free PC software to plan a course.

I would guess you are going to be at 16-20 gallons per hour on cruise, I may be high, way high. I suspect you are at 120 gallons on fuel so you would be at 5-6 hours of cruise time. The variable is what state the engines and carbs are in. If they need some work you'll find out when you blow through more fuel then you expect. Make sure you have clear marinas identified for fuel on your way down just in case.

Anyway just spouting off, no real basis...

Enjoy the trip and get someone to go with you.
 
I think that is a long shakedown cruise. With that said, I purchased a 31' Trojan in Baltimore and brought it to Colonial Beach day 1. We had already sea trialed it for an about an hour prior to the purchase and had the bottom paint freshened up while it was hauled for the survey. Just plan to leave early, have a good crew, spares, tools, safety gear, good GPS, VHF and cell phones. Make sure someone knows your float plan.

How long has it been since the boat has been on any substantial run?
 
Your title mentions "to hatteras" as the last stop. Are you going to Hatteras NC? If so, then you really need to be wary of weather and wind. The Pamlico Sound is an extreemly large and shallow (average 15' depth) body of water. As such, it can get very big and very steep in there. I have traveled back and forth to Florida many times, one time in my friend's 51' Sundancer. We got spanked in the Albemarle soound and were unable to continue, and had to find a marina. The Albemarle Sound is much smaller than the Pamlico and still gets really nasty.

I echo everyone elses comments and recomendations. Make sure you have all your safety gear up to snuff, and do this trip with someone with experience since it will be your first time. Good Luck and be safe!
 
it might be better to just hire someone who hauls boats for a living. then when you get it back to your shop you can fit it to your trailer. imho. from a tree guy in nj. the boat haulers aren't that much. good luck with the new boat and let us know what you do
steve
 
Heres an update I am prob going to trailer it down from Baltimore. does any one have towing a 10ft beam boat experience? I have been rebuild th esurge brakes on my trailer and have made the tongue longer now so everything should be good to go in that dept. The boat does have gps depthfinder and all that jazz and am not totally new to boating. I have taken proper courses and go with friends (although there boats are smaller) fishing in the bay from time to time so I know what you mean about those shallow water storms. But it is officail i will be seeing the concert on the 19 and 20th in Portsmouth. Then have a marina booked in Nags head for 5 days and in hatteras for five days. I would hate to think that i could only run the bought for 5 to 6 hours before having to refuel? that seems quite excessive. Most things i have read said aropund 2 miles per gallon on a 270 adn didnt really change that much having one screw or twins. anyways I just cant wait to get it and I beilve it will be this weekend!!! More pics to be coming soon
 
Have a good trip - boating in the sounds around here is a bit tricky. Make sure you have updated charts or chip for your GPS as the water levels can be interesting at times. While the channel depths are usually quite good at 8 ft or more, the surrounding water gets skinny quick! Winds have been picking up in the afternoon so do NOT rely on the Weather Channel forecast - it has not been accurate on winds for over 2 weeks. They'll say 6-9 and it will be 12-15. May not seem like a lot but combined with some challenging currents it makes for some interesting times! Ask questions at the marinas - most will be glad to help!

Which marinas did you book? Pirate's Cove and Teach's Lair?
 
was going to stay at pirates cove but had to cancel major storms rocked va and as the owner of a tree company it doesnt look like i can do it. may just take a train to Baltimore drop the boat in and motor down to deltaville va and enjoy the fourth on the the boat there. Then back to work ugh
 
Call Ben Gibson at Sea Ray of Richmond,804-275-0250. He may have all the info you'll need on a move like this. If you do move by water stay in the bay! Get a good app or two for weather, up tp date radar, and Nav charts. The last two or three weeks the tides are lower and there seems to be more waterlogged trees floating just below the surface. Most of all be safe! Check and double check....fire suppression systems, bilge pumps, and your gear.
 
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